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Join the D10 Como Community Council Board in 2024 | |
Here’s your chance to tackle that new year's resolution to get more involved: Several seats are up for election in April to the District 10 Como Community Council board.
It is highly recommended that you join us at some monthly meetings, which are always open to all community members, before making the decision to commit to a board position.
These positions serve two-year terms, through April 2025. To get on the ballot, fill out an application at District10ComoPark.org/Elections. That’s where you can also learn more about the roles and opportunities of board members. The filing deadline is Sunday April 1. The election ends April 15. If you have any questions or would like to know more about being a board member you can reach out to district10@district10comopark.org.
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Join Us Next Week
D10 Community Meeting- 1st Wednesdays - March 6, 7pm
Hybrid on Zoom and @ Como Streetcar Station (1224 Lexington Pkwy)
The first Wednesday of every month typically hosts our Environment and Neighborhood Relations committee topics for discussion and planning, as well as guest presentations related to those issues. Occasionally time sensitive Land Use and Board/Organizational items are included on the agenda as well.
Next week we will check-in with Adam Strehlow, Urban Forester from St. Paul Parks and Rec – Forestry about the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) program, begin planning for our 2024 Como Cleanups, May Orchard Rec Community Event, 2024 Como Garage Sale, and other upcoming opportunities. Open to all, DVR Survivor and come join us!
If you're interested in serving on the D10 Board, a great first step is to come join us at our meetings, open to everyone! You can also view an overview of responsibilities and find a board member application here.
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Give Blood in Como
Wednesday, March 6, 9am-3pm @ Como Zoo
D10 Como Park partners with the American Red Cross and the Como Zoo & Conservatory to host community blood drives at the Zoo. Appointments are now available for our next event: Wednesday, March 6, 9am-3pm. Space is limited, reservations required.
Please consider giving blood, with so many still working from home, workplace blood drives have all but vanished, these community drives make a huge impact!
DONOR PROMOTION: Give 3/1 to 3/24 for $10 e-gift card for pet supplies and chance at $3K gift card!
Get Involved: We also have one sign-in table volunteer shift open for Noon-3pm on March 6.
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D10 On-Demand
Through the miracle of modern technology, most of our Como community meeting presentation recordings are available to view on our website.
Unveiling the Untold: Meet St. Paul’s Black Rosies – 2/24/2024
Go beyond the headlines and learn about unsung heroes of World War II: Saint Paul’s Black Rosies. Como neighbor Jeremiah Ellis takes you inside the Twin Cities Ordinance Plant, where African American women made bullets fly and shattered racial barriers. Their courage offers powerful lessons for our time. Discover their inspiring narratives, accentuated by pictures from their lives. Don’t miss this chance to honor their legacies and learn from their resilience. View the recording here on our website.
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Request a Ballot for the D10 Election
Ballots for the April election can be requested on our election page (ballots won't be created and sent until after the candidate filing period has passed). Community members vote from home: either online or by returning a paper ballot through the mail.
The first step in voting is to request a ballot. To get your ballot, fill out a ballot request form. We’ll send ballots beginning Friday April 5.
Who is eligible to vote: Renters, homeowners, and other residents of District 10 who are at least 16 years old can vote. So can representatives from business, nonprofits, or other organizations with a physical presence in District 10.
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Register For Como Ball!
There is a NEW baseball and softball program starting this spring - right here in Como! - and they are looking for neighborhood kids to join the fun! Como Ball is a nonprofit youth baseball and softball association with the mission of returning quality and affordable youth baseball and softball to the Como Park, Hamline-Midway, North End, St Anthony Park, and Frogtown neighborhoods. There will be an in-house league for kids aged 7-12 as well as travel teams for older kids. The season will run from mid-May thru July, with specific schedules coming soon. Check out the great article about Como Ball that was in the Pioneer Press!
Visit www.comoball.com to learn more and register today!
DONATIONS ACCEPTED: Don't have young kids but still want to support the program? Donations will go toward purchasing equipment and providing scholarships for families, so that finances are not a barrier to kids playing ball. Click here to donate!
SPONSORSHIPS AVAILABLE: If you're a local business owner, please join the growing list of sponsors by emailing comoball23@gmail.com. We love community support!
QUESTIONS? Contact comoball23@gmail.com
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Como Parks & Rec Programming
Youth Summer Sports registration is open. Youth sports are FREE at all rec centers for 10U and up! Jump on the Early Bird Discounts this weekend.
Parks is now seeking 2024 Music in the Parks performers applications are now open for summer 2024 Music in the Parks performers at Mears Park and Como Lakeside Pavilion. Visit the Music in the Parks webpage for more information and to apply.
Camp Como is back: 2024 camp offerings are now listed on their website. Scholarships are available. Registration opened February 20.
North Dale Rec Center (9am-9pm Mon-Thu, 9am-6pm Fri)
Ongoing Drop-In Programming
Northwest Como Rec Center (2-9pm Mon-Thu, 2-6pm Fri)
*Registration Required
D10 finds this info here in the Parks and Rec registration system, you can often find events further in advance than we have room here in the newsletter for!
Now seeking a concession vendor for Saint Paul aquatics facilities
Saint Paul Parks and Recreation is seeking proposals from vendors to manage concession operations at four aquatics facilities: Como Regional Park Pool, Highland Park Aquatic Center, and Phalen Beach. Proposals for will be accepted through February 9, 2024 at 3pm.
St. Paul Parks & Rec Fee Assistance Program
The City of Saint Paul operates a special program that helps families pay for Parks & Recreation youth classes and activities. Fee Assistance can be requested by families who meet program requirements when registering for youth activities. To be eligible for the program, youth must live in Saint Paul, be 18 years old or younger, and qualify for free and reduced lunches.
Fee Assistance can be used toward most recreational sports or activities offered by Saint Paul Parks and Recreation. To view the online catalog of all available activities offered, click here.
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Neighborhood Notes
Sound Level Variance Notice:
- An application for a sound level variance has been received for the Hmong International Freedom Festival event on Saturday June 29 and Sunday June 30, 2024 from 8:00am-9:00pm on event days with a pre-event sound check on Friday June 28, 2024. The event will be located at McMurray Fields. Further details on this event will be forthcoming.
New License* Applications:
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Al's Garage LLC (997 Front Ave. - Former Duke's Location): A new Class N license application for Auto Repair has been shared with D10. Anyone with input can email the Como Community Council or contact the Department of Safety & Inspections (DSI) at 651-266-8989, or email DSI-Licensing@ci.stpaul.mn.us.
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El Aguila (1552 Como Ave.) A new Class N license application for Liquor License - On Sale/Sunday Liquor Sales has been shared with D10. Anyone with input can email the Como Community Council or contact the Department of Safety & Inspections (DSI) at 651-266-8989, or email DSI-Licensing@ci.stpaul.mn.us.
*While license notifications serve as community reminders, feedback on a business license can be submitted at any time.
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Why Are The Street Lights Out or Dark? Wire Theft
We've all experienced how dark things have been lately, especially now that night comes so early.
St. Paul Public Works has a Street Lighting webpage on the issue, including a list of Frequently Asked Questions that have been on many of our minds as we think up our own solutions to the issue.
We need the support of residents and businesses to stop street light wire theft!
Wire theft is not random, but often organized and coordinated with people even wearing vests and putting out cones. If you see anyone “working” on street lights during any time of the day or night and there is a not a City of Saint Paul vehicle near the site, please report the location and activity to the Saint Paul Police Department at 651-291-1111. Do not approach the “workers.”
To report any street lights that are out or damaged, please report the location through the online form.
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Public meetings for the Highway 36 study from Roseville to Maplewood scheduled in March
The community is invited to attend public meetings hosted by the Minnesota Department of Transportation to learn about potential ideas for improvements along Highway 36 from Roseville to Maplewood.
The first meeting will be held in person at the Rosedale Center on the Lower Level near Entrance B, on Saturday, March 2 from 10am-1pm, 1595 Highway 36, Roseville. Attendees will have an opportunity to review ideas for improvements and share feedback with the study team. There will be no formal presentation, so attendees can arrive and leave at any time.
The second meeting will take place virtually on Thursday, March 7 from noon-2pm on Zoom. A link to register for the virtual meeting is available on the study webpage. The virtual meeting will include a presentation, facilitated discussion and a question-and-answer session.
If members of the public are unable to attend the meetings, they can provide feedback using an online survey.
Information about upcoming construction on Highway 36 between I-35W and Edgerton Street this year will also be available at these meetings.
MnDOT invites and encourages participation by all. If you need an ASL, foreign language interpreter, or other reasonable accommodation, or need documents in an alternative format (such as braille or large print), please email your request to ADArequest@state.mn.us or call 651-366-4720.
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Monday, March 11: Mayor Carter to Deliver 2024 State of Our City Address
On Monday, March 11, Mayor Carter will deliver the 2024 State of Our City address at the Xcel Energy Center. The 2024 State of Our City address is free and open to the public.
WHAT: Mayor Carter’s 2024 State of Our City address
WHEN: Monday, March 11, 2024 at Noon.
WHERE:
Xcel Energy Center, Gate 1 Entrance
199 W Kellogg Blvd
St Paul, MN 55102
The event will be held just beyond the Gate 1 entrance. Free parking will be provided from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Saint Paul RiverCentre Parking Ramp. RSVP if you're planning to join in-person.
The address will also be live streamed online on the City of Saint Paul Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/cityofsaintpaul.
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Workshops hosted by the St. Paul Police Department
Wednesday, March 27 at 6p.m.: Personal Safety
Learn about situational awareness at home, in the car, at work and in the community.
Register here for these virtual classes.
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2024 STAR grant applications open Friday, April 5
Save the date! The 2024 grant applications for the City of Saint Paul’s Neighborhood STAR and Cultural STAR programs will open on Friday, April 5.
Neighborhood STAR grants fund capital projects in Saint Paul neighborhoods and Cultural STAR grants support arts and cultural organizations and events in Saint Paul.
Online applications for both programs will be due Wednesday, May 15 at 4 p.m.
Visit the program websites for more information on this year’s STAR programs. The 2024 guidelines and information on application workshops will be available in March.
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New Mobile Library Rolling In This Year
This week Saint Paul Public Library announced it is unveiling a new, state-of-the-art Mobile Library in May to replace its well-loved Bookmobile that spent more than 19 years traversing all corners of the city. The Mobile Library will provide new and expanded services based on community feedback, including access to mobile hotspots and Wi-Fi, and referrals to community resources and notary services.
The new Mobile Library is expected to be fully operational and ready to hit Saint Paul streets in early May. Services currently offered through the existing vehicle will pause beginning March 31 as library staff transition from the old vehicle to the new. Staff will provide some interim delivery services to specific existing stops.
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Ramsey County Environmental Resources
Start collecting food scraps for compost
Looking to do something good for the environment? Participate in Ramsey County’s free food scraps collection program. You’ll reduce your trash and put wasted food to better use. There is a collection site here in Como at located at 1115 Beulah Ln, on the West side of the McMurray Fields. The food scraps are processed into compost at an industrial compost facility and used in gardening and landscaping projects. All types of food waste are accepted, including meat, bones and dairy.
Collecting food scraps is easy! Just follow these three steps:
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Get equipped: Find a container to collect food scraps. Pick up a free compostable bag at the collection site.
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Collect food scraps: Line your container with the compostable bag and fill it with food scraps.
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Drop them off: When your compostable bag is full, drop it off at the collection site. Pick up a new bag at the site.
To learn more, watch this short video and visit Ramsey County’s food scraps webpage.
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St. Paul Bulky Item Pick-up - Use it or lose it!
If you're looking to easily get rid of a bulky item such a couch, appliance, mattress, or TV, use the bulky item collection program to have the item picked-up by your trash hauler. The Saint Paul Citywide garbage program includes 2-3 bulky item pick-ups per year, at no additional cost. To schedule a bulky item pick up, call your garbage hauler. For details, visit stpaul.gov/bulky.
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Warming Space Locations and Hours
Ramsey County has opened winter warming spaces in Saint Paul for residents who are experiencing homelessness. Through the end of March 2024, the following locations will be open every night from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. On Jan. 1, the Saint Paul Opportunity Center warming space closed for the season.
Central Baptist Church
420 N. Roy St.
For families and youth ages 14-24
Saint Paul-Reformation Lutheran
100 N Oxford St.
For women only
Phalen Activity Center
1530 Phalen Drive
For men only
Union Gospel Mission
435 University Ave. E.
For adult men only
The free shuttle service will run from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. each day. Ramsey County housing services and support staff will also be answering calls and emails from 9 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. to help refer people to available warming spaces or extra shelter beds. You can also find extreme cold and winter weather safety information here.
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What's Happening At The Fairgrounds? | |
Twin Cities Regional Science Fairs | |
DESCRIPTION
The Twin Cities Regional Science Fairs' mission is to provide opportunities for interaction with professionals, discussion of project goals, presentation of ideas, and project analysis for all youth in the Twin Cities nine county area.
LOCATION
Warner Coliseum
HOURS
Friday, March 3: 8 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 4: Volunteers only
Sunday, March 5: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
ADMISSION
Free
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DESCRIPTION
Discover the latest trends, connect with fellow sneakerheads, and swap stories about your favorite kicks. From iconic classics to cutting-edge designs, you'll find an incredible variety of sneakers to admire and potentially add to your own collection.
LOCATION
North End Event Center
HOURS
Noon to 5 p.m.
ADMISSION
$20 + fee
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Have something you'd like us to consider sharing in our newsletter? Email us at district10@district10comopark.org | |  |
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Support Community Engagement
Do you appreciate the work D10 Como Park does in the community? Consider supporting D10's work by making a tax-deductible contribution. Thank you!
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